Introducing #TheNewNow: Conversations with the Leaders of Diversity in Craft Beer
In my first ever post for BAOS, I touched briefly on the ever-growing conversation of diversity in craft beer, particularly the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the industry. I mentioned the efforts of Ontario’s own Ren Navarro and her work through Beer. Diversity. to broaden this conversation and shine more light on the need for better representation of people of colour, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and basically anyone who doesn’t fall under beer’s stereotypical demographic.
As a straight, bearded white guy, I basically check every box on the list of craft beer enthusiast stereotypes. I’d blend in so well at a craft beer festival that my own wife would probably have trouble finding me in the crowd. As such, I’m conscious of the fact that I’m not a person who has ever felt out of place in the community. I’ve certainly never felt that I’m not in the demographic that good beer is marketed to, and I’ve never walked into a brewery or beer event and felt like there’s no one “like me” there. With that said, there are many wonderful people promoting diversity in the industry who are much better qualified to shed light on what needs to change in order to bring more people around the craft beer table.
I reached out to some of the leaders who are championing the expansion of diversity and inclusion in craft beer, working to make room for everyone at the table. I asked them about how they got into beer, how they started their platforms, what their missions are, and how the industry can benefit from bringing more people in and opening up to more diverse cultures. I was thrilled with the enthusiastic response from these inspiring individuals. I loved learning more about the work they’re doing, and am beyond excited to share these conversations with you. If you don’t know who these wonderful people are already, I strongly encourage you to read on, check out their work, follow them on social media, and help make craft beer the best it can be. Regardless of which side of the bar you’re on, we all have a responsibility to make room for everyone at the table.
The list of people I spoke to for this article is not even close to exhaustive. There are so many amazing people doing great things for diversity and inclusion in craft beer, and it obviously wasn’t possible to include everyone in a single post. Here are just a few other inspiring people who are working tirelessly to drive this critically important movement forward: “Dr. J” Jackson-Beckham, Toni Urban Craft Curiosity, Ralph Marion Beered Black Man, Chanell Judith Hops Galore, Chalonda Afro Beer Chick, SoCal Cerveceros (the largest Latino home brew club in the USA), and Black Brew Culture, co-creators of Fresh Fest, the USA’s first black beer festival, returning for its second year on August 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Ren Navarro – Beer. Diversity.
Teo Hunter – Crowns & Hops / Dope & Dank
Latiesha Cook – Beer Kulture
Eric D. Jackson Jr. – Uncap Everything / The Capsoul Collective
Arielle “Airie” Peters – Black Mermaid
Brandon Montgomery – Black Beer Travelers
Dennis Malcolm Byron – Ale Sharpton
Ren Navarro
Founder of Beer. Diversity., Co-Founder of Society of Beer Drinking Ladies
Kitchener, ON
Ren delivering one of her dynamite talks at Dominion City Brewing Co. Photo by Nathan Does Beer.
What got you into craft beer as a consumer?
Bad beer in university! I used to drink Red Dog (I was drawn in by the mascot). After working in life insurance for too many years, I was drinking Alexander Keith's (which years later, I learned that it was NOT an IPA). I really got into craft beer at WVRST with my wife. We used to attend their Beer 101 afternoons that were hosted by several different craft breweries. It was a wonderful way to learn about different styles!
What prompted you to start Beer. Diversity.? What’s your mission?
After years of doing media for SOBDL (I'm a co-founder and former co-organiser), the questions started shifting to me as a black woman in beer. When I left the craft beer sales rep world last year, I fell into doing some talks, which started to snowball. I was also doing beer consulting for restaurants, so I figured there was a double meaning with the company name. It's the diversity of people in beer, alongside the diversity of beer styles. The mission? Give people a safe space to have a dialogue about bringing more folks to the craft beer family table.
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
There's massive impact on many levels. For breweries, more people coming in means more money. Including LGBTQ+, different abled, people of different ages, backgrounds, etc., helps build that sense of community. There's so much we can learn from one another, why not bring that to the beer world? The diversity can help influence flavours and styles. We all win this way!
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
Don't be afraid to ask questions! Right now, I see quite a bit of the industry spinning in circles, fretting over how to improve diversity and inclusion. But they're not talking to the people they want to invite to that craft beer family table. But remember, when speaking to those groups of people, don't expect them to be your absolute expert on what you should do. Meet the groups half way. Present ideas, don't expect them to give you ALL the ideas/feedback. Consumers, if you can't speak up over something you're not okay with, vote with your dollars. But remember, if someone doesn't know there's an issue with something they've done, the issue will never be resolved. We also need to get away from spreading negativity about experiences, let's start highlighting those who we feel "get it right". If we build each other up, we'll really see great change.
*Ren recently partnered with Ottawa’s Dominion City Brewing Co and Niagara College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program to create the Dominion City Beer. Diversity. Scholarship.
Teo Hunter
Co-Founder of Crowns & Hops, formerly Dope & Dank
Los Angeles, CA
Crowns & Hops co-founders Teo Hunter and Beny Ashburn. Photo by Cudjo Collins.
What got you into craft beer as consumers?
I was introduced to craft beer by various creatives in the music and entertainment industry around 2007. Everytime we would visit bars they prefered, there were always beers I had never heard of or tasted. From there began an interest to learn where these beers were made, completely oblivious to the fact that beer was being produced in my own city. This curiosity combined with being in one of the newer and more progressive craft beer regions of the world (Los Angeles, CA) sealed the deal for the love of beer. Beny would later be introduced to craft beer by me in 2015, discovering Northeast Style IPA's and Sours, which she also was completely unaware of prior to our relationship.
What prompted you to start Crowns & Hops / Dope & Dank? What’s your mission?
The lack of diversity in craft beer was simply ridiculous. We couldn't understand why the dopest creatives, artist, executives, etc, were only drinking tasteless, crap beer. It made no sense to us that we as black and brown people have the most flavor in our style and in our food, but zero flavor in our beer. We also realized that there was no one outwardly having this discussion with the existing craft beer community or communities of color. Dope & Dank, a craft beer lifestyle brand, became the bridge for this disparity to be addressed and a safe platform for exploring solutions. Our mission is to invite a more diverse audience into the craft beer community in addition to influencing inclusion in the industry itself. We believe that in opening Crowns & Hops Brewing Co., we are addressing both of these critical initiatives. We will focus on building community, expanding the community palate and preserving the culture of our black and brown communities within our spaces. #TheNewNow
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
We believe that everyone should have access to better beer. Once the seed has been planted, the desire for exploration begins, hence the need for more craft breweries that are reflective of diverse communities. In our opinion, people are generally attracted to things that share their culture and heritage. This point coupled with world class craft beer is an absolute driver for community based small businesses, but also for the continued growth of the craft beer industry. It is estimated that 9,000 breweries will be open by 2020 [in the United States]. It's a fair assumption that these breweries will be in places that are more diverse than the existing 7,600+ breweries which is why it would be beneficial for all for there to be more brewery owners of color.
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
If a business truly cares about finding solutions for diversity and inclusion, they must be prepared to be uncomfortable and seek engagement beyond an Instagram "Like". Every region has unique issues and solutions. There is no "one-size-fits-all" solve for this global disparity. Our advice to the existing craft beer community would be to not assume they have all the answers and to ask more questions. Coming up with solutions for a diversity problem without having a series of conversations with that community is a mistake. Using someone's culture other than your own in order to project diversity comes off as pandering and can be classified as cultural appropriation. We are closer than we are further apart, but representation is key for authentic solutions to be found.
*Crowns & Hops co-founders Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter are opening the first black-owned independent craft brewery, Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. in Teo’s hometown of Inglewood, CA. Earlier this year they succeeded in reaching their crowdfunding goal of $75,000 USD! The story was featured in a recent Forbes article by Danielle Harling: Weeks After A Successful Crowdfunding Campaign, Crowns & Hops Remain Dedicated To Representation.
Latiesha Cook
Cicerone Certified Beer Server, Co-Founder of Beer Kulture
St. Petersburg, FL
Photo by Latiesha Cook.
What got you into craft beer as a consumer?
It’s pretty much public knowledge through our new book how my partner, Dooch, began his beer journey... Me however, my journey started by trying new beers with him. At first I wasn’t fond of the things he was trying... like Guinness for example. So I started tasting and drinking fruit beers and then sours. I quickly fell in love with those because it was closer in flavour to mixed drinks (similar to what I already enjoyed). The more I drank beer, the more I was curious about what was out there. So I tried new styles and over time as my palate changed and grew, I learned to love most styles and flavors. Now, here I am. A functioning alcoholic like the rest of you. Haha!
What prompted you to start Beer Kulture? What’s your mission?
Beer Kulture kind of just happened. It isn’t something we were looking to start. Our main focus is to merge urban culture with beer, which is two-fold and revolves around education; knowing and respecting the craft. We’re also passionate about creating spaces not only where minorities can enjoy good beer and work in and create beer, but also where they can be 100 percent themselves where they aren’t asked overtly or inadvertently to tone themselves down.
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
The craft beer community can only benefit from it. Imagine men and women of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and walks of life, making beer and enjoying beer together. Imagine the flavor profiles that can be experienced... Imagine the innovation that can take place simply by diversifying your brewery and/or taproom. Craft beer would be so far along had it embraced demographic, social and economical differences. Look at other industries like Wine and Liquor who are ahead of the curve on this topic. They are making great strides industrially and financially.
I think craft beer is beginning to make those strides with the help of movements like Beer Kulture... but there’s definitely room for growth.
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
Working to improve diversity/inclusion has no cookie cutter methods. It starts at the very top being committed to the cause. There will be friction and uncomfort... like anything new. But the rewards can outweigh that if you let it.
Brewery owners or anyone working in the industry can start by being honest with themselves about their own fears and biases. The work starts on the inside and then expresses itself outwardly. It requires dedication and HELP. It can not and should not be done alone. Understand, this doesn’t mean we need a gatekeeper to diversity and inclusion. But it does mean that we want to be sensitive and authentic which requires us to be accountable. Brewery owners and others will make mistakes along the way. They’re human, how could they not? But the amount of mistakes made can be minimized when we help each other along the way. And that’s what this all comes down to is us helping each other be better and making room in this industry for ALL people, whether they’ve been excluded intentionally or fortuitously.
*Get your hands on This Ain’t The Beer That You’re Used To: A Beginner’s Guide to Good Beer by Latiesha’s husband and Beer Kulture co-founder, Dom “Doochie” Cook – Amazon USA | Canada
Eric D. Jackson Jr.
Founder of Uncap Everything & The Capsoul Collective
Richmond, VA
Photo courtesy of Uncap Everything.
What got you into craft beer as a consumer?
I got into craft beer because of my unwavering sense of curiosity and need for adventure. Granted, my earliest memories of tasting beer were not appealing to my palette, but through exposure to various styles, it became one of my most beloved beverages. I specifically remember being at Yazoo Brewery in Nashville having a Smoked Porter and being blowing away by the complexity and difference in taste than what I had had before. From that moment on, my eyes were opened and exposed to a whole new world.
What prompted you to start Uncap Everything? What’s your mission?
Uncap Everything has been an evolution of bad ideas into what you see now. At its core, it is a journaling of experiences as beer being the center. When I first started my own journey with craft beer, I took to Instagram simply to record the beer and post tasting notes based on what I was studying and reading. It has, of course, evolved because of my need for more information and my passion to interact with people. If you know me, I say this all the time, "It’s really not about the beer". It really isn't. It’s about the moments that happen around it. It's about the people that brew, serve and drink it.
Our mission is simple. To turn the non-beer lover into a craft beer enthusiast as we seek to educate and explore the world of craft beer.
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
Inclusion has to happen, no exceptions. There are too many places in the world where division occurs based on all sorts of standards. The craft beer industry would greatly benefit from including more diverse communities, not only financially, but socially. These collaborations need to be seen and experienced as an example to others of what community looks like. It’s about investments. I hope to see breweries invest back into the communities where they set up shop or with individuals that have influence in their areas.
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
I think I said most of this above, but breweries need to intentionally invest in their communities. And let's be more specific, the black and brown communities. Partner with organizations that have a focus on diversity. I don't expect every brewer to know what to do, but that's where the collaboration piece comes into play.
I would also like to add that Uncap Everything has a second branch now called The Capsoul Collective. Our focus is to energize and assist in diversifying breweries through our Hop Crawls. We've already seen great feedback from breweries in our area and we are excited to make a lasting mark here in Richmond, VA.
The Capsoul Collective | Web
The Capsoul Collective | Instagram
*Eric recently became the newest beer and culture writer for Richmond Grid. Check out the Capsoul podcast, magazine and Hop Crawls!
Arielle “Airie” Peters
Head brewer at Railyard Brewing Co., Founder of Black Mermaid
Montgomery, AL
Airie at Ghost Train Brewing Co. in Birmingham, AL. Photo courtesy of Airie Peters.
What got you into craft beer as a consumer?
I was drinking beer in college, being that it was easier to get then. I really became a real consumer and taking a true interest in craft beer in 2015 after going to a beer festival for my 21st birthday in Houston, TX.
What prompted you to start the Black Mermaid brand? What's your mission?
Back when I first started really going to breweries on my own, I didn't see anyone like myself. In the "deep south region" as I call it where I'm from, I was looked at crazy for wanting to dive into craft beer the way I did. I started the name Black Mermaid based off a running joke in the bar I was/still working in where a few of my regulars would call me the "Beer Mermaid" or "The Mermaid", so I took that and made it my own brand. I wanted to see if there were more women out there like me. Women who love pretty things and to be girly but love craft beer. I want Black Mermaid to be a vessel for that, a place to flaunt the duality of feminism and craft beer. Black Mermaid is for the magically unspoken in the beer.
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
The industry would greatly benefit from it! There are so many styles of beer so why can't the industry be just as diverse? The more we get different minds and different backgrounds to mesh, the better the industry will be. Nothing is constant but change and the craft beer industry DEFINITELY needs a change.
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
Think before you say things! Think before you do things! A lot of the problems that are being had in the beer industry right now could be prevented if people would think before they did things. Go out into the community/area around you, check out new things and be open minded to them. If you see the same thing everyday, of course when something different is brought your way you won't know how to react. Push yourself to be uncomfortable and have those tough conversations, that's where growth comes from.
*Airie recently became the first black female brewer in the state of Alabama. Check out her conversation with Ren Navarro in October: What It's Like to Be a Woman of Color in the Beer Industry
Brandon Montgomery
Founder of Black Beer Travelers
San Diego, CA
Brandon at Costa Rica Beer Factory in San José, Costa Rica. Photo by Jaime Zuluaga.
What got you into craft beer as a consumer?
Craft beer started for me with a trip to Japan in support of my full-time job as a system engineer in February of 2011. There was a team of us that traveled on this trip, but my then coworker, and now good friend Brian Greenberg was the experienced Japan traveler and craft beer aficionado. During this ten day trip between Tokyo and Nagasaki, I experienced my first tastes of craft beer and was immediately hooked. I fell in love with Belgian strong ales and Trappist ales that are rarely ever seen in the African American or Latinx communities. Visiting beer bars like the Délirium Café Reserve in the Akasaka district of Tokyo really left a notable influence on who I am as a person and helped to inspire my goal to share craft with more cultures.
What prompted you to start Black Beer Travelers? What’s your mission?
Black Beer Travelers had a few noteworthy moments that lead to its creation, but the idea was originally inspired by my personal “token-like” experience with craft beer and how my experiences coincided with my travels. Since 2011, I realized craft beer was not marketed to minorities of the United States and I made it a personal goal to introduce craft to more of my community.
It would not be until the December of 2014 that I coined the hashtag #BlackBeerTraveler. I had just completed a three month assignment in Abu Dhabi and was about to travel through Europe for two weeks. I figured a great way to document my travels was to create a few hashtags. One tag for my personal travels, #BMontRunsTheGlobe, and one for any black person that enjoys craft beer, #BlackBeerTraveler.
Fast forward to the summer of 2018, I was inspired by the drive of the young lady I was dating at the time to do more. So, I launched the Black Beer Travelers Instagram with the mission to showcase people with diverse backgrounds enjoying, representing and creating craft beer of around the world.
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
The inclusion of more diverse communities will only better the craft culture as a whole and hopefully change the stereotypical craft beer drinker from “white men with beards asking what IPA is on tap”. With more cultures having representation in craft, you’re bound to get more customers, more recipe ideas, and more conversations between people in these very separatist times. Beer has always contributed to a feeling of community for so many. It’s a lot more fun when there are more voices at the table contributing to the conversation.
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
For brewery owners, brewers and those in the industry, please be open to criticism and conversation without judgment or too much pride. Many of us have let our ego prevent us from understanding information that would help better a product or business. Welcome constructive criticism as much as you welcome praise.
For consumers, make it about authentically showcasing yourself, your opinions and the things you want to see in the culture. Your voice has value and will be the first to inspire the change needed in craft beer.
*Follow along with Brandon’s world travels and adventures! #BMontRunsTheGlobe #BlackBeerTraveler
Dennis Malcolm Byron
a.k.a. Ale Sharpton
Atlanta, GA
Photo by Andrew Draper.
What got you into craft beer as a consumer?
Flavor is everything to me. I was born with a sophisticated palate that demands the best of whatever it comes into contact with thanks to my family's lineage of chefs and gourmands, including my great grandfather, my mom, her mother, and my sister; I’m not too shabby with the pots and pans either. We are all wizards in the kitchen. I am also a Cornell Hotelie. My point is, like fare, beer possesses so many flavors and tasting complexities, so I was happy to find something liquid with the same amount of range. Add the creative, imaginative, and often risqué packaging since I’m really into art, usually inexpensive price tag, and overall availability certainly helped the cause as well.
What prompted you to start your Ale Sharpton brand? What’s your mission?
Well, along with my family being culinary wizards, they are also teachers. I do that with beer, and love to showcase all of its tasting qualities, origins, and pairing capabilities with food. But most importantly, I enjoy the people that ales and lagers bring together. There is a lot less pretentiousness, judgement, and communication barriers with this beverage in my opinion. If someone is holding a beer, they tend to be more approachable and down for conversation. It’s not a working class libation, it’s a “down-to-earth” class one. I love that. Also, the people who craft beer and open breweries usually have an amazing story on how they got started. I enjoy informing the world about their journey.
As for the “Ale Sharpton” name, besides simply coming up with a cool alter-ego that is more memorable than my government name which sounds like a law firm when using all three—Dennis Malcolm Byron—I am simply reflecting the dedication Reverend Sharpton has in what he does; I have a similar passion for beer. To add, the name hints that I am a brother in an industry that’s not heavily populated with people of color; this makes another statement there as well.
Visually, I am an artist and really big on design, creative marketing, and presentation, so the logo had to be amazing, pop with vibrancy, and hit the eyes upon first look. I believe I succeeded there. Shout out to my friend Vince who helped me realize my concept conceptualized more than a decade ago.
Ultimately, I want beer to bring people together, provide opportunities, enlighten, and be enjoyed all backgrounds; being good people should be the common denominator.
How do you think inclusion of more diverse communities can impact the craft beer industry?
As I stated before, I think inclusion will be able to provide more people opportunities to show how they interpret this beverage, be it through social media, owning bars, restaurants, breweries, and of course crafting their own recipes to name a few. Like food, there are so many variations of everything from burgers to macaroni and cheese, tacos, vegan dishes, barbecue, seafood, baking, or what have you, globally; beer should be the same way. As barriers like racism and ignorance diminish, creativity, diverse events, creative businesses, entrepreneurialism, and educated palates will thrive.
What advice would you give to brewery owners, brewers, consumers or anyone working in the industry for how they can work to improve diversity/inclusion?
I think providing more opportunities for minorities and women. There are voices to be heard. While many players in the craft beer industry are making conscious efforts for inclusion, I come across some unfortunate instances involving discrimination, racism, and unwelcoming environments for non-white people; ironically, many of these same people choose to be culture vultures because it’s “hip” to do so. In the end, simply look at your staff, brewers, executives, taproom managers, marketing team, distributors… whatever, and then ask yourself if you are doing enough for inclusion? I think once we develop and increase what I term the Three Es—education, experience, and exposure—plus opportunity and fairness, this will lead to exciting results.
*Ale Sharpton was recently featured in a Forbes article by Gary Stoller: Ale Sharpton Points The Way To The Best Craft Beer In Atlanta, Other Georgia Cities
I would like to say an ENORMOUS thank you to Ren, Teo, Tiesha, Eric, Airie, Brandon, and Ale for their participation. It was a genuine pleasure to talk to all of you (most of you for the first time)! High fives, hugs, and cheers all around!
Nathan
Nathan is a craft beer enthusiast from Ottawa, ON. He is the Co-Founder of @TeamLactose, he’s passionate about travelling for beer and he loves talking about beer from Ontario, Quebec and beyond.